Speaker V. Vaithialingam on Wednesday directed the government to conduct a probe within one month into the alleged financial irregularities in managing the affairs of Anglo-French Textiles (AFT) mill during the tenure of the AlNRC government.
The Speaker intervened on the issue while Minister for Industries M. O. H. F Shahjahan was giving his reply to a question by AIADMK member A. Bhaskar on the financial position of the AFT mill.
Replying to the query, Mr Shahjahan said the accumulated loss of the mill stood at Rs. 572.26 crore and the government needs to pump in Rs 158. 99 crore to revive the century old mill. Apart from this, it has a liability of about Rs. 100 crore.
In his response to the reply, the AIADMK member said there was widespread corruption in running the mill. Equipment worth Rs. 400 crore was sold for a meagre sum of Rs. 2. 85 crore and these machines which are in perfect working condition are being used by textile manufactures in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. He went on to add that even a lightning arrestor erected in the mill was sold out.
Seizing the opportunity, the Congress members sought more details from the AIADMK member and urged the Minister to order a probe. The timing of the allegation by the AIADMK member brought smiles in the ruling camp as it came at a time when AINRC was making overtures to the Dravidian party for a tie-up.
Social Welfare Minister M. Kandasamy was even heard asking AIADMK members to make a commitment that they would not enter into any alliance with AINRC. To this, AIADMK member A. Anbazhagan said his was the only party in the Union Territory fighting corruption. “It does not matter whether it is Congress or AINRC,” he said.
Giving further details, Mr Bhaskar said the corruption took place when AINRC leader Balan was Chairman of the mill. With several Congress members, Mr. Anbazhagan and DMK member R. Siva seeking a probe, the Industries Minister said the government would form a committee to look into the alleged irregularities. At this point, Speaker gave a direction to complete the probe within a month.
